UAF says botanical garden doesn't face closure

FAIRBANKS - Administrators at the University of Alaska Fairbanks say there is no truth to a Facebook post that claims the Georgeson Botanical Garden is closing because of budget cuts.

A nonprofit organization that provides support to the campus research garden posted a Facebook update Friday that says recent cuts have endangered the garden to point where it will be forced to permanently close next year.

But Carol Lewis, dean of the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, says the message was badly overblown. Though widespread cuts have been made to erase a budget shortfall, Lewis says the botanical garden is safe.

Along with its research work on northern plants, the botanical garden is a popular destination for tourists.